400 Clever Swahili Names To Inspire You

Last Updated on January 8, 2022 by Mubashir Rafique

Here you will find some cool and catchy Swahili names that you will surely like. These are some best and well-known names and you can use them anywhere you want. You can share them with your friends and also you can use them for your own personal use. Don’t forget to check our website for some more unique and clever names.

We have a huge variety of business names that will help you to name your own business in no time. We also have provided some slogans and taglines that you can use to encourage yourself and also your employees. So without wasting any single second of your precious time, let’s dive in and get some good name ideas.

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Swahili Names

Here are some best unique Swahili names that you will like:

Safiyah
Adhra
Rashid
Oding
Abedi
Anasa
Ayonna
Kuende
Mhina
Shanit
Arusi (born during a wedding)
Hasanati (good)
Hali (genuine)
Akili
Hasina
Ato
Ali
Rhamah
Taj
Eshe
Imara
Asad
Zina
Aivana
Hiba
Daudi (beloved one)
Bahati
Simba
Madini (a gem)
Furaha
Badru
Ashur
Muhammed
Amiri
Kiira
Kibwe
Habiba
Anza
Busara (foresight)
Yusufu
Senegal
Chausiku
Nuru
Umoja
Tian
Sarama
Ajia
Moyo (heart)
Asani
Yazid
Asha
Mwenye
Najuma
Faraji (consolation)
Mwando
Muga
Atieno
Salim/Saleem
Issa (God’s our salvation)
Ekon
Tamu (sweet & delightful)
Ayo (joy)
Adam
Jabari
Farijika
Chane
Ambar

Cool Swahili Names

Following is the list of some cool Swahili names:

Kali
Fanaka
Jojo
Hodari
Juma (born on Friday)
Busar
Musu
Raziya (agreeable)
Omari
Tian (respect)
Dalila
Mhina (delightful)
Fanaka (valuable)
Ayan
Mbiyu
Sanaa
Abubakar
Hanif
Ada / Adana
Annan
Dinka (people)
Zahra
Eli
Aziz
Imara (strong one)
Anwar
Jata
Jumaane (born on a Tuesday)
Davu
Simba
Azima
Mpenda
Adamu
Bwana Mkubwa
Ngina
Rehema
Tamu
Barack
Buhle
Kobe
Bahiya
Tisa (ninth-born)
Keambiroiro (mountain of blackness)

Male Swahili Names

Below are some best male Swahili names that you can use:

Tumaini
Sefu (sword)
Wub
Rashid (rightly guided)
Barrak
Amari
Muhammed (praised)
Nea
Elea
Adhama
Athumani
Sentwaki
Haoniyao
Kito
Darweshi
Kiama
Mwanajuma
Adia (a gift from God)
Sahel
Avannia
Karanja
Beno
Muraty
Salehe
Azize
Bayana
Keva
Imani
Daudi
Musa
Bisa
Karolina

Female Swahili Names

Enlisted you will see some clever female Swahili names that you will like:

Mbita (born on a cold night)
Lela
Kito (precious child)
Juma
Ayubu (patience in suffering)
Khamisi
Aharon
Macharia
Chike
Duma
Zuwena (good)
Busara
Taji
Kamaria
Mshindi (champion)
Ramadhani
Abdalla (servant of God)
Faraji
Latrice
Jamani (friend)
Sultan
Zahour
Armani
Haifa
Amar
Ade
Atif
Khalfani
Baraka
Safiri (a journey)
Itanya (hope)

Swahili Last Names

In this list, you will get some good Swahili last names:

Fujo
Nyo
Shani
Jamba
Ayanna
Bayana (clear knowledge)
Sadeeki
Hanif (believer)
Mzuzi
Adnan
Ayubu
Jumaane
Jafari
Haki
Gamila
Kwame
Tambo (vigorous)
Mkiwa (orphaned child)
Zuri
Lakeisha
Zainabu
Nia
Jela
Ainran
Yazeed
Msia
Sefu
Kai
Azibo
Nadira

East African Names

Here are some best catchy east African names:

Abdu
Mchumba
Zakia
Rajabu
Marini (pretty)
Darweshi (saintly)
Ashanti
Idi
Adila
Tamu (delightful)
Nyah
Anasa (joy)
Sauda
Mwinyi (one who summons)
Jamila/h
Habib
Angaza
Koshi
Mbita
Mzuzi
Doli
Chitundu
Deka
Ikeno
Hali
Zalika
Alhaadi
Abuu
Tendaji

How to Create Your Own Swahili Names

Have you ever tried coming up with a good name for a character in your favorite book series? If you’re like, me, then you’ve probably spent hours trying to come up with a good name, but you still end up with the same boring name every time.

I’m here to help you with that problem. I’ve collected some Swahili Names from different sources, including novels, movies and comics, which you can use to come up with a name for your characters in your favorite book series.

Here are some tips to create simple and unique names

Keep it Short and Simple

Have you ever tried to come up with a name for a character in a roleplaying game? If so, you know how hard it can be. You begin with a pile of names and eventually you find one that you like, but getting it right the first time is a challenge.

This is because they are long and boring names. You should find names that are short and simple.

Here is a list of short and clever names.

Kenyatta
Sadiki
Subira
Jelani
Amsha
Angalia
Cacnja
Mwinyi
Kamara
Jamani
Pua
Nyo (star)
Aivanna
Shamfa
Njowga
Dalila (gentle)
Safiri
Marjani
Ashia
Kalere (short woman)
Azizi (precious)
Hamisi
Abasi
Abdul
Abdalla
Njonjo
Zahur
Chauski
Bomani
Salene
Chitundu (bird’s nest)
Malaika
Akram
Ibby
Barak

It’s a pain to have a long, unwieldy name. You can’t just be Kaitlin or Jane or Taryn. You need something that is specific and not too common.

Make it memorable.

Swahili Names that are short and sweet are usually memorable too. To make a name memorable, make sure it is easy to understand and say aloud. When a name is easy to understand, it automatically fits in the sub-conscious mind of people and thus cratering a memory in their mind.

To come to know whether your selected name is memorable or not, say it a few times loudly and you will come to know if it’s memorable or not.

Avoid Difficult Names

Some names are creative but difficult to understand and memorize. Although they looks cool, they should be ignored. This is because they aren’t memorable. People try to avoid all the names that include hard to spell words.

Here are some examples of easy inspiring names.

Odai
Maulidi
Jaha
Barasa
Kellan
Avania
Makena
Jata (celestial star)
Tabia
Keanjaho
Hamadi
Malika
Zahoor
Zuberi
Odion
Zooberi
Avana
Zawadi
Ayo
Aponi
Niah
Amani
Kwanzaa
Pili
Mosi (first-born child)
Ashon
Ivory
Kereenyaga
Neema
Kuende (evolution)
Adili
Shauriana (advise)
Ajali
Mwamini (honest)

When a name has hard to understand and memorize words, it becomes quite impossible for the audience to understand it.

Osama Mukhtar

I have over two years of experience naming brands, products, and companies! I specialize in naming, branding, and naming style guides for tech companies and startups.

Essentially, I help companies create comprehensive branding and naming style guides that are easy to read, intuitive and easy to follow.
My goal is to take my branding and naming consultancy to the next level.